Galatians 4:9-11
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
9 but now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and destitute elemental powers? Do you want to be slaves to them all over again?(A) 10 You are observing days,(B) months, seasons, and years.[a] 11 I am afraid on your account that perhaps I have labored for you in vain.[b]
Appeal to Former Loyalty.[c]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 4:10 This is likely a reference to ritual observances from the Old Testament, promoted by opponents: sabbaths or Yom Kippur, new moon, Passover or Pentecost, sabbatical years.
- 4:11 Cf. Gal 2:2. If the Galatians become slaves…all over again to the law (Gal 4:9), Paul will have worked in vain among them.
- 4:12–20 A strongly personal section. Paul appeals to past ties between the Galatians and himself. He speaks sharply of the opponents (Gal 4:17–18) and pastorally to the Galatians (Gal 4:19–20).
Galatians 4:9-11
New International Version
9 But now that you know God—or rather are known by God(A)—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces[a]? Do you wish to be enslaved(B) by them all over again?(C) 10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!(D) 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.(E)
Footnotes
- Galatians 4:9 Or principles
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.